Showing posts with label comcast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label comcast. Show all posts

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Comcast Launches Xfinity Education Destination for Kids K-12 with Thousands of Free Resources #xfinitydads #partner

Comcast announced that it has made nearly 2,000 hours of programming and thousands of free titles available to Xfinity video customers to give children and parents quick and easy access to educational programming by grade level as part of the company’s comprehensive response to the COVID-19 crisis.

The collection is a joint effort with Common Sense Media, the leading source of entertainment and technology recommendations for families whose trusted age-based ratings and reviews are integrated into Xfinity on Demand. A subset of the education collection is also available on Xfinity Flex and across devices via the Xfinity Stream app and website.

“Today Xfinity is making thousands of hours of educational programming and resources available to our customers through Xfinity on Demand as we know how challenging it is for families right now who are suddenly homeschooling young children – many with both parents working, as well,” said Rebecca Heap, SVP of Video & Entertainment at Comcast. “The programming selected in partnership with Common Sense Media is available in one comprehensive destination organized by grade level to make it as easy as possible for parents to find what is most relevant to their family.”

Xfinity customers with X1 or Flex can say “Education” or, if their voice search language is set to Spanish, “EducaciĆ³n,” into the Xfinity Voice Remote to access content available to them by grades “K-2,” “3-5,” “6-8,” and “9-12” and also “for all ages” currently including:

  • Free programs from subscription video on demand services (SVODS) Bluprint, CuriosityStream, The Great Courses Signature Collection, Grokker Yoga Fitness, HISTORY® Vault, Kids Room and The Reading Corner.
  • Additional free adult continuing education programming from these SVODS focused on the “Mind,” “Body,” and “Soul” spanning biographies; podcasts on a range of topics including technology and business; yoga; dance; food and cooking; fitness; wellness; ballets and operas; and gardening.
  • Educational series from networks and streaming services including Animal Planet, HISTORY®, Nick Jr., PBS KIDS, Smithsonian Channel and more.
  • Spanish language programming available from networks including CBeebies, Discovery Familia and Kids Central.
  • Firsthand interviews and historical narratives from Voices of the Civil Rights Movement, Comcast’s signature commemorative programming initiative honoring the impact and legacy of the movement.

Additionally, Comcast has enlisted the guidance of Natascha Crandall, Ph.D., a psychologist and educator to program the content across English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies based on grade appropriate guidelines aligned with the current U.S. school curriculum.

“When schools close and other community places people congregate are off limits, it can feel overwhelming for families with kids, so we’ve partnered with Xfinity to curate a list of educational recommendations to help kids learn and keep them engaged during their time indoors,” said Ellen Pack, President of Common Sense.

Year round, Xfinity makes a safe and enjoyable kids and family entertainment experience a priority through a variety of features, including:

  • Kids Zone, which offers a safe environment for children to browse, shuffle and watch live TV, Xfinity On Demand content and DVR recordings that are appropriate for kids ages 12 and under.
  • Common Sense Media ratings and reviews, which help customers find recommendations that are right for their family.
  • Xfinity xFi, the Company’s simple, digital dashboard for Xfinity customers to personalize, troubleshoot, monitor, and control their home WiFi network, offers parental control features such as pausing WiFi and bedtime mode, as well as the ability to set up 30 different screen time schedules per profile, to help families manage screen and viewing time.

Beyond free education content and resources, Comcast has undertaken a comprehensive COVID-19 response inclusive of making its low-income Internet Essentials program free for new families for the first 60 days of enrollment, opening Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country to anyone who needs them for free (including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers), pausing data plans, creating a COVID-19 news destination on X1 and Flex (in Spanish and English), and offering rolling free entertainment previews to Xfinity X1 and Flex subscribers.

NOTE: This release was provided by Comcast and I am posting it as I thought it would be beneficial for you, my readers! No compensation was provided.

Sunday, July 7, 2019

The latest offerings from Xfinity’s Day of Awesome and Xfinity Kids Week TODAY through 7/14!

This post is sponsored by Comcast.

Comcast Xfinity held a Day of Awesome recently at local Xfinity stores to showcase some of the latest offerings of their TV, Internet, Voice and Mobile services. I’d like to highlight a few things of interest to families. Also, don't miss the first ever Xfinity Kids Week starting today and going through Sunday, July 14. More details below:

APPS
Xfinity Stream is one of the apps that I use on my iPhone or iPad the most around my house as well as on my commute and family trips. Recently we went on a trip to Sesame Place and thanks to Xfinity Stream, I was able to download previously recorded episodes of the kids’ favorite shows to keep them entertained for the car ride!  You can watch more than 200 channels outside the home, download TV shows or On Demand programs so that you can stay entertained when you’re offline.

The xFi app allows Xfinity Internet customers to manage the home wireless network and router using a simple app on their mobile device.  This app and the xFi experience is another reason why you want to rent your wireless gateway from Xfinity,
                                       
Using the Xfinity My Account app, you can easily troubleshoot services, pay a bill, find an Xfinity Store near you, and you can even eliminate hold time by tapping a time that works for you if you need to speak with a Comcast representative! They really have thought a lot about saving time for their customers, which is a must for families when trying to juggle everything.

YOUR HOME NETWORK
We have high expectations when it comes to internet connectivity, especially when it comes to coverage, and Comcast helps this through their xFi Gateways and xFi Pods, giving you fast, reliable WiFi coverage throughout your home. The xFi Advanced Gateway can deliver 1G speeds over WiFi in the home. If you rent the gateway from Xfinity they will swap it out for newer devices whenever they increase their internet speeds. xFi Pods are a powerful mesh WiFi solution that extend reliable WiFi coverage to hard-to-reach areas. When traveling outside the home, as part of the Xfinity internet package you also have access to more than 19 million WiFi hotspots, so you can stay connected on the go at no additional cost.

X1
X1 offers a unique, integrated experience that provides you with access to You can access so many services with the voice remote: live TV, On Demand, Recorded video, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, NPR, Sling International, and iHeartRadio. They are going to be partnering with Amazon Music to offer that option as well on the X1 platform! One of my favorite things about the X1 remote is that I can have it turn on my TV, Surround Sound system and wake up my X1 box all by pressing the power button. Magical!

TV
If you have a 4K TV, Xfinity just added a bunch of new content – including the Women’s World Cup coverage as well as 4K content from X1-integrated apps like Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video. Xfinity offers the largest 4K library that aggregates 4K programming from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and more (as long as you have a 4K TV and a 4K box from Xfinity).  In years past, Xfinity has made signature events available in 4K on demand including the Olympics and World Cup. You can have a 4K box shipped to you or arrange for a professional installation. There is no additional cost for 4K service from Xfinity.

KIDS WEEK 7/8-7/14
From Monday, July 8 to Sunday, July 14, Xfinity is hosting the first ever Kids Week offering dozens of movies and shows for kids for free all week long, at home and on the go! During Kids Week, Xfinity TV customers will have access to the full catalog of Xfinity On Demand programming from networks and premium services such as Disney Story Central, Kids Central, Kids Central en Espanol, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Nick en Espanol, PBS Kids, Primo TV and VME Kids. Additionally, networks including Cartoon Network, Cartoon Network en Espanol, Discovery Family, Discovery Familia, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD and Universal Kids will offer a selection of some of their most popular shows and movies for customers to enjoy free throughout the week. All of this great content will be made available across Xfinity TV platforms including X1 and the Xfinity Stream app and portal. Xfinity customers without an Xfinity TV subscription can also log in to Stream using their credentials to enjoy a selection of free TV shows and movies, too.

Thursday, June 20, 2019

Comcast Business offerings, X1 for Business and WiFi Pro and Xfinity is hosting a Day of Awesome on 6/22

Watching the game on X1 for Business.
Image provided by Comcast Xfinity.
This is a sponsored post by Comcast.

Recently, I had the chance to learn about some offerings from Comcast Business, most notably X1 for Business and WiFi Pro, which would be especially useful for small to medium businesses.

As an Xfinity customer, I’ve grown used to the great offerings X1 has given me at home, as well as the use of xfinitywifi when away from home. What’s nice is that now when I go to visit a business that is using Comcast Business, they will have the same X1 experience that I am familiar with at home.

I find it useful to be online when waiting for my car at the mechanic or needing to check things when out with friends. I also like to watch TV shows when at the gym and having reliable internet is key.

Comcast Business offers Ethernet (with speed up to 100 Gig for interested businesses), Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses.

X1 for Business includes easier search and navigation, voice control and a picture-in-picture, sports content companion called the X1 Sports App that includes team and players profiles, statistics and real-time, game-specific data. This offering is available to bars, restaurants, hotels, gyms and other businesses across Comcast’s operating area throughout the Greater Boston Region and its footprint in the US.
WiFi Pro provides a business owner with a built for business tool to maximize WiFi coverage in their building that makes it easy to manage your business's Internet. A business can control their network with a separate guest network that could include custom splash pages for customers, offers, data analytics and more.

This Saturday, June 22, Xfinity is hosting a "Day of Awesome" at its Greater Boston Region Xfinity Stores. It’s meant to be informative, so you’ll learn some tips and tricks about services you may already have like X1 and check out free Xfinity apps (The Xfinity xFi app is a true game changer – see my previous write up here).  They’ll have giveaways and refreshments too.  Check out http://www.experience-xfinity.com/ to sign up and register for a location near you.

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Xfinity xFi gives you the best speed, coverage and control of your in-home wifi

NOTE: This is a sponsored post from Comcast about xFi.

I had been using my own modem for a few years and it's been a good experience, especially when you're trying to save a few bucks off of the monthly bill. I quickly noticed some tradeoffs, most notably not getting the full benefit of increased network speeds since Comcast's technology is always evolving, which quickly made my purchase dated technology.

I've recently changed to renting the modem, which gives a few advantages: when Comcast makes any improvements, I can just swap the modem. They have also included quite possibly, one of the best new features at no additional charge - xFi, which is only available if you're using their latest rented, in-home gateway.

xFi gives you greater control through a simple, modern, easy-to-use experience so that you can choose who can access your network at any time.

You can download the enhanced xFi experience through your mobile device app store, available for iOS or Android, which enables you to see what devices are on your home WiFi networks, troubleshoot issues, and even pause your home WiFi connections during those times you want people to be focused on things other than the internet and screens.

One great feature is that you can assign a time allowance per device (think different lengths of time per iPad) so you can ensure your kids aren't spending too much time watching videos on Youtube.

Once your modem is installed by a Comcast technician, you have quick access to your home network and can customize things easily through the enhanced xFi experience. You can do things such as:
  • Pause with a Tap: using the xFi app you can pause the network access by time, device or even user.
  • Home Network information: you can view and/or edit the home network name and password
  • Name and Organize devices: You can assign a name to each device and organize the devices
  • Who's using a device: You can create users and assign devices to them
Check out xfinity.com for more information!

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Comcast releases unparalleled Winter Olympics Viewing Experience on all Xfinity platforms #hosted

1980 USA Hockey “Miracle on Ice''
Olympic gold medalist Jim Craig and Dave.
Last week, I had the opportunity to enjoy some delicious food and company at Boston Winter while learning about the new viewing experience available to all Xfinity TV customers. At any point during the Winter Olympics, you can take your X1 Voice Remote (available to all X1 customers) and say "Olympics Home" at any point to access the special Olympics experience.

If you have the Xfinity Stream app for iOS or Android you can also take the Olympics with you! I love being able to watch my favorite shows via Xfinity Stream and now with the ability to stay up to date on the medal counts and latest Olympics coverage the app will be surely in use quite a bit in our house!

At the event we learned about these great features, had the chance to hear from special guests 1980 USA Hockey “Miracle on Ice'' Olympic gold medalist Jim Craig and Consul General Kim Yonghyo from the Korean Consulate in Boston. We also enjoyed watching various curling clubs from the area give a demonstration of Curling, the sport where you slide a 40+ pound stone on ice and others sweep the ice so the stone can travel smoothly. I've always wanted to try it - who knows, maybe I will join one of the teams one day.

NOTE: I attended an event sponsored by Comcast Xfinity to learn about all of these new features for the upcoming Olympics coverage. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are my own.


For more information, here is a press release from Comcast:

Comcast Unveils Unparalleled Winter Olympics Viewing Experience For Xfinity TV Customers Across Platforms

Access All of NBC Olympics’ Coverage in One Place on X1 and Xfinity Stream 

X1 Customers Will Enjoy 50 New Olympics Virtual Channels, New Voice Controls, Athlete Profiles, Real-time Stats, Daily Summaries, and Medal Counts

Comcast unveiled the most live, mobile and technologically advanced Olympics experience that will be available to Xfinity TV customers on the TV and across platforms for the Winter Olympics PyeongChang 2018. Following the success of the Rio Olympics, Comcast is rolling out a host of new features on Xfinity X1 and the Xfinity Stream app and web portal so viewers can customize and control their Olympics viewing experience across platforms, and never miss a moment of the Winter Games.

“Our goal is to raise the bar for the modern-day Olympics viewing experience across platforms, and experiment with new features and functionality that will surprise and delight our customers in exciting new ways,” said Matt Strauss, Executive Vice President, Xfinity Services. “With 50 new virtual channels dedicated to the PyeongChang Games, enhanced voice control, medal counts, real-time stats and daily summaries, we are excited for X1 customers to experience the Olympic Games like never before. And by creating one go-to destination for all Olympics coverage across devices on Xfinity Stream, all Xfinity TV customers can access every moment of every event on their favorite devices, at home or anywhere in the country.”

X1 customers will enjoy easy access to all 2,400+ hours of NBC Olympics’ live, on demand and streaming coverage—the most ever for a Winter Games—in one place. And for the first time, all Xfinity TV customers will be able to access this comprehensive NBC Olympics dashboard across devices with the Xfinity Stream app and web portal.

The X1 experience will feature:
  • 50 Virtual Channels, curated by the Xfinity TV editorial team, that highlight the best moments of each day in PyeongChang, trending athletes, spills and thrills and more. Customers can watch all videos included in a playlist or browse and select only the videos they would like to watch.
  • Daily summaries offering real-time snapshots of the Olympics with up-to-date information on the day’s events, featured athletes and a medal tracker.
  • On demand access to NBC programming in 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos three-dimensional sound, including the opening ceremony, ski jumping, figure skating, and snowboard big air. NBC Olympics’ 4K HDR coverage of the PyeongChang Games is presented by Xfinity.  
  • An on-screen companion experience with the X1 Sports App, providing viewers with the latest scores, schedules, stats, and highlights for every sport and event.
With more than 500 million voice commands generated monthly, X1 customers are using their voice remotes more than ever to navigate their entertainment experience. And to ensure users can access all NBC Olympics programming, updates and information quickly and easily, X1 customers will be able to control their experience with 1,500 Olympic-specific voice commands. For the PyeongChang Winter Games, X1 customers can:
  • Say “Winter Olympics” to navigate to the NBC Olympics dashboard.
  • Check the hockey score while watching curling by saying, “USA Men’s Hockey.”
  • Explore events, replays, and highlights for any sport by saying, “Alpine Skiing.”
  • Find out when athletes are competing by saying, “Gus Kenworthy” or “Team USA.”
  • Check out how any country is doing by saying, “What is the medal count?”
  • Plan out your day by saying, “What Olympics events are on today?”
  • Say, “What song is this?” to get song and artist information for the music playing during figure skating performances.

The NBC Primetime Show begins February 8th with coverage available via NBCUniversal networks including NBC, NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), USA Network, CNBC, and the Olympic Channel. 
For more information about X1, visit www.xfinity.com/X1